TULSA, Okla. (April 20, 2022) – As Earth Day 2022 approaches, PSO highlighted recent environmental achievements, including the opening of the largest wind farm built at one time in North America.
On March 21, PSO, the Oklahoma operating company of American Electric Power (AEP), began receiving power from the 356-turbine Traverse wind farm in Blaine and Custer County.
Traverse is the third, largest and final portion of the 1,484-megawatt North Central Energy Facilities, which uses Oklahoma wind to serve Oklahoma customers. NCEF facilities will generate enough energy to power 440,000 homes. With no fuel costs, they will save PSO customers about $1 billion over their 30-year lifetime.
“Traverse is our latest environmental success story, and we’re proud of it, but it’s not our only one,” said PSO President and Chief Operating Office Peggy Simmons. “From wind farms to electric vehicle charging stations to energy efficiency programs that save customers money and reduce the use of fossil fuels, we are proud of our environmental achievements.
“AEP has pledged to achieve net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 and to reduce emissions 80% from 2000 levels by 2030,” Simmons said. “NCEF and other potential PSO wind and solar plans are a major part of achieving that promise.”
In January 2021, the Sierra Club rated PSO No. 1 among 79 major electrical utility on progress toward becoming 100% clean renewable electricity providers.
Media Contact:
Wayne Greene
PSO Corporate Communications
(918) 521-1474
lwgreene@aep.com